Abstract: A small diameter delivery device capable of delivering a tissue loaded scaffold arthroscopically to a tissue defect or injury site without reducing the pressure at the injury site is provided. The scaffold delivery device of the present invention comprises a plunger system that includes two main components: an insertion tube and an insertion rod. The insertion tube has a flared proximal end for holding a tissue scaffold prior to delivery. An elongate, hollow body extends from the flared proximal end to a distal end of the insertion tube, and defines a passageway that extends through the body for delivery of the tissue scaffold. The insertion rod has an elongate body that extends into a handle at a proximal end and a tip at a distal end. The insertion rod is configured to be removably disposed within the insertion tube for sliding along the passageway to effect delivery of the tissue scaffold through the insertion tube.

Abstract: A shoe sole comprising a foot engaging plate for accommodating a foot of a user and a ground engaging surface/plate. The foot engaging plate is sufficiently rigid so as to resist distortion of the foot engaging plate, during use of the shoe sole, so that the foot remains supported by the foot engaging plate during use of the shoe sole. A pivot member is located between the foot engaging plate and the ground engaging surface/plate to facilitate relative pivoting motion between the foot engaging plate and the ground engaging surface/plate. A layer of resilient material is sandwiched between the foot engaging plate and the ground engaging surface/plate. The resilient material may have one or more bores formed therein which accommodate a compressible material therein to facilitate programming of a desired compression characteristic for the shoe sole.

Abstract: A small diameter delivery device capable of delivering a tissue loaded scaffold arthroscopically to a tissue defect or injury site without reducing the pressure at the injury site is provided. The scaffold delivery device of the present invention comprises a plunger system that includes two main components: an insertion tube and an insertion rod. The insertion tube has a flared proximal end for holding a tissue scaffold prior to delivery. An elongate, hollow body extends from the flared proximal end to a distal end of the insertion tube, and defines a passageway that extends through the body for delivery of the tissue scaffold. The insertion rod has an elongate body that extends into a handle at a proximal end and a tip at a distal end. The insertion rod is configured to be removably disposed within the insertion tube for sliding along the passageway to effect delivery of the tissue scaffold through the insertion tube.

Abstract: A small diameter delivery device capable of delivering a tissue loaded scaffold arthroscopically to a tissue defect or injury site without reducing the pressure at the injury site is provided. The scaffold delivery device of the present invention comprises a plunger system that includes two main components: an insertion tube and an insertion rod. The insertion tube has a flared proximal end for holding a tissue scaffold prior to delivery. An elongate, hollow body extends from the flared proximal end to a distal end of the insertion tube, and defines a passageway that extends through the body for delivery of the tissue scaffold. The insertion rod has an elongate body that extends into a handle at a proximal end and a tip at a distal end. The insertion rod is configured to be removably disposed within the insertion tube for sliding along the passageway to effect delivery of the tissue scaffold through the insertion tube.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for extracting and macerating tissue, and optionally for depositing the tissue onto a tissue scaffold. The device generally includes an outer tube having a substantially open distal end that is adapted to be placed on and preferably to form a seal with a tissue surface, and a shaft rotatably disposed within the outer tube and movable between a first, proximal position in which the shaft is fully disposed within the outer tube, and a second, distal position in which a portion of a distal end of the shaft extends through the opening in the distal end of the outer tube. The device also includes a tissue harvesting tip formed on the distal end of the shaft that is effective to excise a tissue sample when the shaft is moved to the distal position, and a cutting member that is coupled to the shaft at a position proximal to the tissue harvesting tip. The cutting member is effective to macerate a tissue sample excised by the tissue harvesting tip.

Abstract: A biological tissue collection device is provided having a housing with a fluid-retaining inner chamber adapted to retain a bioimplantable, fluid permeable tissue scaffold. The scaffold is preferably retained in the housing in such a way that the scaffold separates the fluid-retaining inner chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber. The collection device further includes a driver mechanism coupled to the housing and effective to create a force within the housing to displace fluid disposed within the second chamber to the first chamber. As the fluid is displaced, any biological tissue deposited on the tissue scaffold is dispersed within the fluid. Removal of the force enables the fluid to return to the second chamber and thereby deposit the tissue onto the tissue scaffold. In an exemplary embodiment, the tissue is deposited evenly onto the tissue scaffold.

Abstract: A shoe sole comprising a foot engaging plate for accommodating a foot of a user and a ground engaging surface/plate. The foot engaging plate is sufficiently rigid so as to resist distortion of the foot engaging plate, during use of the shoe sole, so that the foot remains supported by the foot engaging plate during use of the shoe sole. A pivot member is located between the foot engaging plate and the ground engaging surface/plate to facilitate relative pivoting motion between the foot engaging plate and the ground engaging surface/plate. A layer of resilient material is sandwiched between the foot engaging plate and the ground engaging surface/plate. The resilient material may have one or more bores formed therein which accommodate a compressible material therein to facilitate programming of a desired compression characteristic for the shoe sole.

Abstract: A shoe sole comprising a foot engaging plate for accommodating a foot of a user and a ground engaging surface/plate. The foot engaging plate is sufficiently rigid so as to resist distortion of the foot engaging plate, during use of the shoe sole, so that the foot remains supported by the foot engaging plate during use of the shoe sole. A pivot member is located between the foot engaging plate and the ground engaging surface/plate to facilitate relative pivoting motion between the foot engaging plate and the ground engaging surface/plate. A layer of resilient material is sandwiched between the foot engaging plate and the ground engaging surface/plate. The resilient material may have one or more bores formed therein which accommodate a compressible material therein to facilitate programming of a desired compression characteristic for the shoe sole.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fixing a ligament in a bone tunnel by cross-pinning the ligament in the bone tunnel.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for extracting and macerating tissue, and optionally for depositing the tissue onto a tissue scaffold. The device generally includes an outer tube having a substantially open distal end that is adapted to be placed on and preferably to form a seal with a tissue surface, and a shaft rotatably disposed within the outer tube and movable between a first, proximal position in which the shaft is fully disposed within the outer tube, and a second, distal position in which a portion of a distal end of the shaft extends through the opening in the distal end of the outer tube. The device also includes a tissue harvesting tip formed on the distal end of the shaft that is effective to excise a tissue sample when the shaft is moved to the distal position, and a cutting member that is coupled to the shaft at a position proximal to the tissue harvesting tip. The cutting member is effective to macerate a tissue sample excised by the tissue harvesting tip.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for extracting and macerating tissue, and optionally for depositing the tissue onto a tissue scaffold. The device generally includes an outer tube having a substantially open distal end that is adapted to be placed on and preferably to form a seal with a tissue surface, and a shaft rotatably disposed within the outer tube and movable between a first, proximal position in which the shaft is fully disposed within the outer tube, and a second, distal position in which a portion of a distal end of the shaft extends through the opening in the distal end of the outer tube. The device also includes a tissue harvesting tip formed on the distal end of the shaft that is effective to excise a tissue sample when the shaft is moved to the distal position, and a cutting member that is coupled to the shaft at a position proximal to the tissue harvesting tip. The cutting member is effective to macerate a tissue sample excised by the tissue harvesting tip.

Abstract: A biological tissue collection device is provided having a housing with a fluid-retaining inner chamber adapted to retain a bioimplantable, fluid permeable tissue scaffold. The scaffold is preferably retained in the housing in such a way that the scaffold separates the fluid-retaining inner chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber. The collection device further includes a driver mechanism coupled to the housing and effective to create a force within the housing to displace fluid disposed within the second chamber to the first chamber. As the fluid is displaced, any biological tissue deposited on the tissue scaffold is dispersed within the fluid. Removal of the force enables the fluid to return to the second chamber and thereby deposit the tissue onto the tissue scaffold. In an exemplary embodiment, the tissue is deposited evenly onto the tissue scaffold.

Abstract: A biological tissue collection device is provided having a housing with a fluid-retaining inner chamber adapted to retain a bioimplantable, fluid permeable tissue scaffold. The scaffold is preferably retained in the housing in such a way that the scaffold separates the fluid-retaining inner chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber. The collection device further includes a driver mechanism coupled to the housing and effective to create a force within the housing to displace fluid disposed within the second chamber to the first chamber. As the fluid is displaced, any biological tissue deposited on the tissue scaffold is dispersed within the fluid. Removal of the force enables the fluid to return to the second chamber and thereby deposit the tissue onto the tissue scaffold. In an exemplary embodiment, the tissue is deposited evenly onto the tissue scaffold.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for extracting and macerating tissue, and optionally for depositing the tissue onto a tissue scaffold. The device generally includes an outer tube having a substantially open distal end that is adapted to be placed on and preferably to form a seal with a tissue surface, and a shaft rotatably disposed within the outer tube and movable between a first, proximal position in which the shaft is fully disposed within the outer tube, and a second, distal position in which a portion of a distal end of the shaft extends through the opening in the distal end of the outer tube. The device also includes a tissue harvesting tip formed on the distal end of the shaft that is effective to excise a tissue sample when the shaft is moved to the distal position, and a cutting member that is coupled to the shaft at a position proximal to the tissue harvesting tip. The cutting member is effective to macerate a tissue sample excised by the tissue harvesting tip.

Abstract: A binding system is provided that is effective for use on recreational device, such as a snowboard, and that is adapted to mate to, or that includes, a boot or other footwear worn by the user. In general, the binding system includes a base plate for support a rider's foot, and a connecting element for mating the base plate to an elongate board, e.g., a snowboard. The connecting element is effective to mate the base plate to a snowboard about a fixed central axis and to allow pivotal movement of the base plate about the central axis with respect to the snowboard. The binding system can also include at least one compression member mated to the base plate and/or to a snowboard. The compression member(s) are effective to compress between the base plate and the snowboard in response to a force applied to at least one of the base plate and the snowboard.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for extracting and macerating tissue, and optionally for depositing the tissue onto a tissue scaffold. The device generally includes an outer tube having a substantially open distal end that is adapted to be placed on and preferably to form a seal with a tissue surface, and a shaft rotatably disposed within the outer tube and movable between a first, proximal position in which the shaft is fully disposed within the outer tube, and a second, distal position in which a portion of a distal end of the shaft extends through the opening in the distal end of the outer tube. The device also includes a tissue harvesting tip formed on the distal end of the shaft that is effective to excise a tissue sample when the shaft is moved to the distal position, and a cutting member that is coupled to the shaft at a position proximal to the tissue harvesting tip. The cutting member is effective to macerate a tissue sample excised by the tissue harvesting tip.

Abstract: A foot measuring or sizing device comprising a base platform, a heel support (28), an alignment fin (6) and a measurement scale (16). The heel support is pivotally connected to the base platform and the foot fin being slidably along an elongate slot formed in the base platform to facilitate alignment of the foot to be measured with a central axis or plane of the foot measuring or sizing device prior to determining a length, measuring a width and/or determining the amount of lift or adjustment of the foot to be measured is necessary to properly support a foot while using footwear.

Abstract: A binding system is provided that is effective for use on recreational device, such as a snowboard, and that is adapted to mate to, or that includes, a boot or other footwear worn by the user. In general, the binding system includes a base plate for support a rider's foot, and a connecting element for mating the base plate to an elongate board, e.g., a snowboard. The connecting element is effective to mate the base plate to a snowboard about a fixed central axis and to allow pivotal movement of the base plate about the central axis with respect to the snowboard. The binding system can also include at least one compression member mated to the base plate and/or to a snowboard. The compression member(s) are effective to compress between the base plate and the snowboard in response to a force applied to at least one of the base plate and the snowboard.

Abstract: A footwear sole structure for dynamically directing interacting forces between a user's foot and the footwear during a stride, including an inner sole located adjacent the user's foot, a mid-sole located between the inner sole and the footwear, and a rib ribbon force transfer structure located between the inner sole and the mid-sole wherein the rib ribbon includes a plurality of ribs spaced along and transversely to a spine axis and attached to a longitudinally extending spine. The rib ribbon resists flexing about an axis parallel to the spine axis and allows a relatively greater degree of flexing about an axis transverse to the spine axis and the rib ribbon is located along a path between the inner and mid-soles to dynamically direct the interacting forces between a user's foot and the footwear as the user's weight shifts from a heel to a toe position during a stride.

Abstract: A shoe sole comprising a foot engaging plate for accommodating a foot of a user and a ground engaging surface/plate. The foot engaging plate is sufficiently rigid so as to resist distortion of the foot engaging plate, during use of the shoe sole, so that the foot remains supported by the foot engaging plate during use of the shoe sole. A pivot member is located between the foot engaging plate and the ground engaging surface/plate to facilitate relative pivoting motion between the foot engaging plate and the ground engaging surface/plate. A layer of resilient material is sandwiched between the foot engaging plate and the ground engaging surface/plate. The resilient material may have one or more bores formed therein which accommodate a compressible material therein to facilitate programming of a desired compression characteristic for the shoe sole.